Blog

NAN-H-19

Smuggling

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

Sokoto Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Sokoto Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, said on Tuesday that it had introduced stringent security measures to prevent smuggling in the area.

Alhaji Sani Madugu, the Comptroller for Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.

He said that officers posted to the border posts had been adequately briefed on the various security methods to be adopted in their areas of jurisdiction to check smuggling.

‘’Competent officers have been put on red alert in strategic areas to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the illegal business,

“Our area of supervision is no go area for any smuggler, “he said.

Madugu added that the command had fully enlightened residents of border communities through their traditional rulers on the negative effects of smuggling on the nation’s economy.

He called for the support of the traditional rulers in mobilising their people to offer intelligence reports to the command on suspicious movement of smugglers.

Madugu said that such support would aid the command to discharge its constitutional duties effectively and without any threat. (NAN)
AAG/DUA/YEMI
Edited by Dada Ahmed
Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju

Audio AttachedZ0000006

NAN-H-41

Biotech

By Gabriel Agbeja

Abuja, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) has urged developing countries to use genetically modified crops to ensure food security.

The Director-General of the complex, Prof. Sunday Thomas, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a workshop organised by the SHESTCO’s Biotechnology Advanced Research Centre.

Thomas said that if well handled, biotechnology could fast-tracking developing nations’ efforts at achieving their set objectives, including food security.

Cue in audio

“We are looking at biotechnology techniques that can be used to improve our agricultural practices with a view to ensuring food security in particular.

“But, the techniques can also be applied to produce plants that could be used in things such as desertification control, erosion control, large-scale plantations, and so on.

“And that is particularly good for our country at this time when the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is looking at how to diversify the economy, especially through enhanced agricultural production.“

Cue out audio

According to the director-general, the major objectives of genetic engineering in agriculture are sustainability, food security, and production of novel biomaterials.

Thomas explained that genetic engineering allowed the transfer of DNA between organisms, whether closely or distantly related.

“This sets the stage for potentially extremely beneficial advancement in crop breeding and led to the first commercial release of genetically engineered crops in 1996.

“Since that time, the adoption of genetic engineered plants by farmers has increased annually, even in the face of opposition, “ he said.

The Coordinator of the workshop, Prof. Abolade Afolabi, said the session was designed to equip participants with the understanding and skills required in modern day biotechnology

“This is useful in studying gen(s) functions and in producing new plant and bacterial types for desired and specific purposes,” Afolabi stated.

In his keynote address, Prof. Olawole Obembe, Director of Industry Partnership, Covenant University, explained that the present century had been predicted to be the “Century of Biology” with the last century having been the “Century of Chemistry and Physics”.

According to him, until about 100 years ago, most building materials, household materials, fuels and clothing came from farms and forests.

“In the last century, we have seen a major shift to such materials coming from petrochemicals derived from fossils.

“Now with biotechnology, we can derive more of the materials in the future from plants and animals produced by our farmers.

“Thus, in the future, farmers should play a vital role in our economic prosperity in addition to their role in food production,” he said.

He said that in the coming decades, climate change would make access to fresh water a huge challenge for agricultural researchers.

The don further said that the adoption of transgenic biotech crops in most developing countries needed regulation.

He, however, added that the difficulty in regulating the adoption of transgenic biotechnology would remain a major constraint. (NAN)

FGA/OSA/YEE

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim

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NAN-F-16
Investigation
Linden (New Jersey, U.S.), (Reuters/NAN) Investigators were searching on Tuesday for clues to the motive behind the bombings and attempted bombings in New York and New Jersey over the weekend.

This is to determine whether the Afghanistan-born suspect had accomplices or was radicalised overseas.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, was arrested on Monday in Linden, New Jersey following a dramatic gun battle with police after they were summoned by a neighbourhood bar owner.

The barman reported after his suspicion that the bearded man sleeping against his closed tavern’s front door in the pouring rain resembled the bombing suspect.

Rahami and two police officers were wounded in the exchange of gunfire.

Authorities did not offer any immediate information on the possible motives of Rahami.

He was charged by Union County prosecutors with five counts of attempted murder in the first degree and two second-degree weapons charges.

More charges were expected to be brought against Rahami in federal court.

New York’s mayor called the bombing that injured 29 people in the bustling Chelsea district “an act of terror’’.

Rahami, who lived with his family above the First American Fried Chicken restaurant in Elizabeth, is also suspected of planting a bomb that exploded on the New Jersey shore on Saturday.

A device found near the New York blast, and up to six more devices found near the Elizabeth train station on Sunday night.

The bombings and subsequent manhunt prompted even greater security in America’s biggest city, already on high alert for a gathering of world leaders at the UN in New York for the annual General Assembly.

An additional 1,000 officers were deployed.

While officials did not give much information about Rahami, CNN, cited unnamed law enforcement sources.

It reported that Rahami travelled multiple times to Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent years, including a year-long stay in Pakistan until March 2014.

Police were looking into whether he was radicalised overseas, CNN said.

The New York Times reported that no evidence had yet been found that Rahami had received military training overseas.

However, FBI agents were trying to determine if his actions had been guided by Islamic State militants or any other terrorist organisation.

U.S. security sources have confirmed that the suspect underwent secondary screening after returning from foreign travel in recent years and passed on every occasion.

Sources, however, could not immediately confirm that Rahami travelled to Pakistan and Afghanistan, as other media have reported.

Travellers coming from places such as those two countries are routinely required to undergo secondary screening.

The blasts, the manhunt and an apparently unrelated stabbing attack at Minnesota over the weekend created tensions similar to those that followed other recent attacks.

This can be related to the mass shootings in Orlando and San Bernardino, California.

The Minnesota attacker was described a “soldier of the Islamic State,” the militant group’s news agency said.

Rahami had not previously been identified as dangerous but his family was known to police as a result of late-night noise and crowd complaints at a family Halal Chicken Restaurant in Elizabeth.

The events also fuelled the debate about America’s security challenges seven weeks before the presidential election, with candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton clashing once again. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf.

Court remands 7 men in prison for alleged breach of peace
NAN-H-48
Remand
By Dorcas Elusogbon
Ile-Ife (Osun), Sept 20, 2016 (NAN) An Osun Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ile-Ife on Tuesday remanded seven accused persons for alleged breach of peace.

They were: Posi Olabiyi, 51; Ayo Komolafe, 25; Afolabi Olaobaju, 23; Adams Mustapha, 23; Sheriff Mustapha 27; Lateef Eludini, 32 and Peter James, 50.

The Prosecutor, Sgt Sunday Osanyintuyi, said that the accused persons committed the offence on Sept 15 around 06:00 p.m. at Road 7 Area, Ile-Ife.

Osanyintuyi said that they conspired within themselves to commit felony with intent to cause riot and disturbed public peace.

He said the offence contravened sections 508 and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, Laws of Osun, 2002.

No pleas were taken and the Magistrate, Olalekan Ijiyode, rejected an oral application for their bail.

Ijiyode condemned the physical outlooks of the accused persons, adding that they look like thugs with their  dreadlocks hairs, earrings, despite that they were all men.

He stressed that he would not grant them bail, but ordered for their remand at Ile-Ife prison for them to learn their lessons and for maintenance of peaceful coexistence in the society at least for awhile.

Ijiyode asked the counsel to come with formal bail application for consideration, and adjourned the case till Oct 18 for hearing. (NAN)
EDA/YMU/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-22
Concession
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) A travel and tourism expert, Mr Ikechi Uko, on Tuesday said the logic behind the Federal Government’s plan to concession the four major airports in the country was sound.

Uko, who is the promoter of the Akwaaba African Travel and Tour Market, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that the government had indicated interest to concession the Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports toward increasing their capacity and efficiency.

Uko noted that due to the current economic situation, the government had no funds to invest in the airports and called for their concession instead of outright sale.

“Seeing the difference between the General Aviation Terminal and the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, I am of the opinion that the private sector might do better because there are limitations to how effective government can be.

“Although, I would have preferred having the flagship airport, which is the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, being in the hands of the government for security reasons, but for efficiency I support its concession.

“With the way things operate in Nigeria, the private sector will be able to run the airports better,’’ he added.

Uko also appealed to the government to save the country’s domestic airlines from going under due to their current challenges.

He said: “The airlines cannot save themselves. Most of their challenges are not self-inflicted.

“They didn’t arrange for the currency to collapse, they don’t import aviation fuel and they don’t also handle the distribution of foreign exchange.

“The Federal Government needs to have an aggressive plan on how to revamp the sector.

“I know some people have problems about why should government give money to private businesses but airlines are a strategic part of the economy.

“They are like banks too. So, if government says it did not want the banks to collapse and is able to do that; it should do same for the airlines.

“The government has to find a way to ensure that there are aircraft in the air every day for the sake of the economy because the economy runs on mobility.

“There are different options. Government can give them cash, give them guarantees or pay for some of their loans.

“I don’t know how the government will do it but if the airlines are left on their own, they will not be able to come out’’. (NAN)
ASO/WOJ/PDE
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(Edited by Wale Ojetimi and Controlled by peter Ejiofor)

NAN-H-47

Deaths

Ilorin, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Kwara command of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Tuesday confirmed the death of three persons in six road crashes during Eid-el-Kabir celebration in the state.

Commander of the commission in the state, Mr Sunday Maku, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in llorin.

He said that the accidents which occurred in six different locations across the state during the festival also had 44 people, including women and children, injured.

Maku said that some of those who sustained injuries were still receiving treatment at various hospitals in the state.

The commander said that 30 persons were rescued without injuries in other minor road crashes in the state during the period.

He attributed the crashes to impatience of drivers, dangerous driving, overloading and other traffic violations.

He revealed that 441 motorists were arrested for various offences, adding that 467 offences were recorded and the offenders prosecuted by mobile courts.

Maku said that 201 vehicles with expired papers were impounded in the state during the period, adding that 240 other vehicles, including trucks, were also “arrested’’ for other offences. (NAN)

BEKI/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

NAN-H-21
Refuse
By Mercy Obojeghren
Asaba, Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) The Delta Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Chika Ossai, on Tuesday called on residents of the state to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse to reduce flooding.

Ossai made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba.

“Indiscriminate dumping of refuse is one of the major causes of flooding in the country. When people dump refuse indiscriminately in their surroundings, such refuse tends to block drainages thereby hindering flow of water.

“I urge all residents of the state to ensure that they adhere to environmental laws to promote a healthy environment,’’ he said.

The commissioner gave the assurance that the ministry was taking steps to reduce indiscriminate dumping of refuse, adding that the state government was collaborating with other stakeholders to mitigate flood impact.

Ossai said that the collaboration became pertinent in view of predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency of cases of flooding across the country this year.

“We are monitoring and putting measures in place to control flooding, especially now that it rains virtually every day.

“ The state government is expanding drainages to ensure easy flow of water to the River Niger,’’ he said. (NAN)
MOA/COF/IGO
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare and controlled by Ijeoma Popoola)

Lawyer cautions against rising cases of divorce petitions
NAN-H-45
Divorce
By Veronica Dariye
Abuja, Sept.20, 2016 (NAN)  A legal practitioner and rights activist, Mrs Theresa Mbanifo, has cautioned against rising cases of divorce petitions in the country.

Mbanifo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, Abuja, on Tuesday that with exceptions of abuse in marriages, spouses must learn to tolerate each others eccentricities.

She identified the causes of divorce to  include wife battering, intolerance and infidelity, among others.

According to her, relevant institutions, groups and agencies must embark on campaign against causes of divorce, while sensitising couples on the need to be tolerant and patience.

“For me, I expect to see less divorce cases in courts as we begin this new legal year.

“In as much as it is our job to fight for or against cases like that while earning a living in the process, I plead with spouses to think thoroughly before filing such petitions.

“Some of us still believe in the institution of marriage, if not, for the sake of other parties involved like the children.

“I must say, it is disheartening to see homes break up after several years of togetherness but if any party is being abused in the process, why not.”

Mbanifo also called on churches to do more of counselling on divorce  than soliciting for funds, adding that churches were the foundation on which the home was built

She, however, said that spouses must look up to God in times of crisis, adding that mutual understanding among spouses was a basic ingredient for any successful marriage. (NAN)
DVK/OFN

NAN-HG-8
Training
Birnin Kebbi, Sept. 21 2016 (NAN) The United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), has commenced training of 20 focal persons to address the issue of malnutrition in women and children in the state.

Addressing participants at the training on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed, Technical Officer of the programme, said the training would last for four days.

She said the training would expose the participants on how to detect and administer malnutrition formula on malnourished women and children.

She said that some Northern states including Kebbi were battling with malnutrition due to insurgency hence the need to team up with state governors to fight the menace.

The UNICEF officer commended Kebbi state government for earmarking monthly allocation of N100,000 to local government to cater for undernourished women and children in the state.

She called on northern state governments to increase budgetary allocations to issues that affect women and children, stressing that UNICEF would sustained its support to deserving states. (NAN)

BKD/MNA/AEA
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(Edited by Maureen Atuonwu and Controlled by Archibong Asuquo)

NAN-AE-7

Worry

By Mohammed Lawal

Zaria (Kaduna State), Sept. 20, 2016 (NAN) Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, the Chairman, Kaduna State chapter of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has expressed worry on the attitude of farmers, who sell farm produce before harvest.

Aminu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Tuesday that the development had become worrisome in view of the fact that such activities might lead to food scarcity in the state.

“It has become mandatory to raise this alarm because I personally visited the affected farms. This, of course is a terrible act and if care is not taken, it will endanger our future.

“The worst part of it is that the buyers buy the farm produce at any rate. These people go for rice and maize still standing on farmlands and they have their agents all over the state,” he said.

The chairman observed that if the farmers refused to take to advice now, the consequences would not only affect them but the entire society in the future.

“We must say the truth, if farmers take this advice, it is good for all of us, otherwise it will be to the detriment of all as food scarcity does not affect individuals alone but the entire society,” Aminu said.

He also urged the farmers to be mindful of God’s right over their farm produce, urging them to always give out alms (Zakat) to the poor and the needy as ordered by God.

“Farmers must bear in mind that they are inviting calamity by selling off their farm produce without giving out Zakat because you cannot give out money as Zakat for farm produce.

“Islam has directed us to give out Zakat of farm produce that reaches Nisab during harvest not before harvest and not in monetary terms.

“Remember, it is by the mercy of God Almighty that we experience annual rainfall and it is by his mercy that we cultivate crops and still by God’s grace that we harvest the yields,” Aminu said. (NAN)

KLM/ORO/YEMI

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju